What has felt like the longest offseason for Florida State football is hours away from kickoff.
After a 2025 season that ended without a bowl game, and a spring without a game/showcase or booster tour with coach Mike Norvell, there are 62 new players (23 transfers, 35 freshmen and four junior college) on a 109-man roster. Add in six new assistant coaches.
Yes, there’s a whole lot of new this fall. We get our first look at the Seminoles on Saturday against New Mexico State (7 p.m. on CW Network).
But if FSU is to find success on the field it will be because of how the new pieces mesh with those who stuck around Tallahassee. Duce Robinson, Ousmane Kromah, Mandrell Desir, Darryll Desir, Ja’Bril Rawls and Ashlynd Barker are among the key Seminoles who were retained this offseason. Add in some role players who have been vocal leaders, Daniel Lyons and Deante McCray are two examples, and there’s a sense that FSU has more leadership and accountability in 2026.
FSU’s transfer class includes those who have a combined 283 starts, with 117 starts arriving on the offensive line: Bowling Green transfer Nate Pabst (38), Auburn / Virginia Tech transfer Xavier Chaplin (37), Auburn / Purdue transfer Bradyn Joiner (17), Stephen F. Austin transfer Chimdia Nwaiwu (13) and Troy transfer Paul Bowling (12) will either start or be in the mix for the top eight linemen.
There’s no preseason depth chart, although the Osceola projected the offense, defense and special teams last weekend. Here’s an interesting look at how the roster was created through the years, courtesy of FSU.
The Seminoles have won three of the last four season openers, including a 31-17 victory over Alabama on Aug. 30, 2025. FSU looks to make it four of five on Saturday against New Mexico State, which will receive a $1.4 million guarantee to play the game.
Scouting New Mexico State
The Aggies have 215 combined FBS starts, second in Conference USA to only Liberty (279) ... QB Trey Hedden is a Tampa native who impressed in two seasons at Furman. The 6-3, 225-pound Hedden threw for a program-record 2,967, completing 68.3 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2025. ... NM State is 0-10 in its history vs. current ACC schools, including an 0-3 mark against SMU.
Game day traffic
Be aware that traffic could be heavy with Florida A&M also hosting a game on Saturday. FSU released some parking and traffic tips.
Ticket information
If you’re looking for tickets for Saturday, check out Seminoles.com or Stubhub.com. FSU is marketing to local fans to help fill the seats against SMU, which is a Monday night game. There are a variety of ticket plans for single games, flex packs and season tickets.
Honoring Janikowski
Kicker Sebastian Janikowski will have his jersey retired during the game. Janikowski, the only two-time Groza Award winner as the nation's best kicker, played at Florida State from 1997-99 before starting an 18-year NFL career.
What to watch
What are we looking for when FSU takes the field in Week Zero? Jerry wrote on 10 of them midweek. Here are three from me:
Show off a dominant run game: FSU returns Ousmane Kromah and Samuel Singleton Jr. and brings in transfer Tre' Wisner, who ran for 1,000 yards at Texas in 2024. It doesn't matter who starts but what will be fun to watch is the rotation, how often FSU uses a two-back set and if each back gets 10 or so carries. This is a game where the Seminoles should run 40-50 times and show off the run game with the likelihood that four transfers start up front on the offensive line. FSU ran 54 times for 498 yards and eight touchdowns vs. Kent State in 2025. We’re not projecting those types of numbers. And Gus Malzahn is retired. But if Norvell wants to show off the run and show off a dominant run game, this is an opportunity to tune up for the SMU game on Labor Day.
Year 2 of the Tony White scheme: It’s a 3-3-5 and a 4-2-5. The front is multiple. Some of the adjustments will be needed for new Seminoles like jack Rylan Kennedy and linebacker Chris Jones. But think about the comfort of familiarity within the scheme for a defense that will include so many Seminoles in year 2 of the scheme. Up front, that includes Mandrell and Darryll Desir, Lyons and McCray, Kevin Wynn and Deamontae Diggs. Could linebackers Blake Nichelson and Omar Graham Jr. take a step forward and what will we see from Caleb LaVallee in his first game at FSU after missing 2025 due to injury? Rawls and Barker are back, as is KJ Kirkland, Quindarrius Jones and Charles Lester. For all of the new, and it’s everywhere (especially on offense) it feels like plenty of veteran Seminoles should feel more confidence playing within White’s scheme.
Don’t take the helmet lightly: FSU is a heavy favorite and has a considerable talent advantage over New Mexico State, which went 4-8 and finished ninth in Conference USA last year. The Seminoles no doubt have spent camp focusing on fundamentals and SMU, which is coming up on Labor Day, but there shouldn't be a mindset of overlooking New Mexico State.
Catch up on our camp coverage
We’ve written quite a few stories dating back to ACC Kickoff in mid-July. Has it really been a month and a half? From stories on Ashton Daniels to the offensive line, freshman receiver Jasen Lopez to the Desir twins, Chris Jones and more, check out the Osceola’s archives.
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